Art Walk Brings Many to Watertown

Year eight is a charm. No rain…no closed roads…and many more artists and visitors were welcomed downtown Watertown for the 8th Annual Art Walk. Over 30 businesses and organizations opened their doors to artists. New this year was the Chalk the Walk event which was free for all to participate. In addition, visitors could see artists in action at the first Watertown Paint Out! a plein air event that was open to artist of every age!

The evening wrapped up at Partnership Bank where students awards were handed out and raffle prizes drawn. Art Walk photos can be found at WatertownArt.

Piggy Banks by the Hundreds

“I can’t believe this is our seventh year of hosting the Watertown School Piggy Bank Contest,” said Nate Salas, President-Partnership Bank. “Just think, we’ve had over 2,000 piggy banks coming through our doors since 2011…I don’t see this popular program stopping anytime soon,” he concluded.

Organized by Watertown High School Art Teachers Jana Strobel and Dave Pawl, the Piggy Bank Contest draws on the talents of young artists from Watertown’s public and private schools. This year, over 120 banks were entered – A taco, rabbit, Medusa, and a turtle were some of the imaginative creations on display.

Looking back, Salas realizes that some of the first winners have graduated from college and are in the workforce for a year or more. “What keeps going through my mind when I hand a certificate or award to a student? The sky’s the limit…I could be congratulating the next Picasso!”, Salas concludes.

Jingle All The Way Wins!

The judges have spoken and Partnership Bank was again awarded first place in the Tomah Chamber of Commerce 2017 Holiday Decorating Contest. Our lobby, complete with a real one horse open sleigh, best exemplified this year's theme "Jingle All The Way!"

"Decorating our lobby for the holidays is so much fun," said Cynthia Erdman, President. "It is simply amazing what we can do when our associates pool their resources…someone has a sleigh (who knew?)…another offers an old fashioned string of jingle bells. Put together, we have turned our lobby into a true winter wonderland minus the snow," she concludes.

Decorations will stay up until after the New Year. All are welcome to stop in the lobby now through the New Year.

The Extraordinary Among the Ordinary

“They are always the first to arrive and the last to leave. …they put in long hours. …they praise, thank, and nudge others into the spotlight,” said Vince Cameranesi, President - Partnership Bank, Cedarburg. “These are our community’s extraordinary citizens and tonight we pause to honor them,” he concluded.

“These people exemplify servanthood,” Cameranesi continued. “People who quietly go about doing good things to make other’s lives (even bug’s lives) and this community a better place to live.”

Organizers behind the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Citizen honors desire to highlight the positive in our communities. Speaking for the group, Cameranesi concluded, “by highlighting the positive, the tide of optimism and hope rises, serving as an example for others to join in… ‘we all rise by lifting others’.”

Love of Neighbor Demonstrated by Extraordinary Citizens

“It really is simple…love your neighbor,” said Dana Presley, Plant Coordinator, Perry Way Foods, upon accepting a Partnership Bank Ordinary People, Extraordinary Citizens honor for Perry Way Foods. Throughout the evening, recipients again and again demonstrated the theme of “loving their neighbor” by the volunteer work they do to help people and the heartfelt recognitions they extended to others who continually offer help when asked or just see a need.

2107 honorees are: Carol Quest for her work as Watertown’s Health Officer/Director; Police Chief Tim Roets, Captain Robert Kaminski, and Officers Kathy Riedl, Laura Bohlman, and Stacy Schroeder who organize the annual “Run from the Cops” fund raiser for PADA – People Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse of Jefferson County; Ted Boettcher and Jeremy Libick for their above and beyond service making meals at the Moose Lodge; Marie Miller, coordinator of the Salvation Army bell ringers; Jody Naatz, organizer of the annual Trivia Night to raise money for Watertown High School sports; and Perry Way Foods for their dedication to their 120 team members and the City of Watertown after the May 2015 plant fire.

“I am continually amazed by the stories of people and organizations who quietly go about doing great things,” said Nate Salas, President, Partnership Bank. “This is our fourth year of recognizing Extraordinary Citizens…we will never run out of recipients, the people of Watertown are some of the most generous and helpful people I know,” he added.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Citizen recognitions highlight the positive in Watertown. “By focusing on the positive, the tide of optimism and hope rises, serving as an example for others to join in – we all rise by lifting others,” Salas concluded.